Mental Health in Howard County: TMS Therapy and the Power of Local Support

Howard County as a Catalyst for Mental Health Innovation

When Dr. Deepan Chatterjee opened the doors to the Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness in Ellicott City, he wasn’t just starting a business—he was answering a deeply personal calling. As a licensed psychologist with nearly two decades of experience, Dr. Chatterjee knew the urgent need for accessible, effective mental health care in our community. His vision was simple but powerful: to help people heal. 

What Is TMS Therapy? 

At his center, patients find more than just therapy and medication management—they find real hope. The practice now offers Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a cutting-edge, FDA-approved treatment for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and OCD. TMS has become a life-changing option for individuals who have struggled with long-term, treatment-resistant depression. 

“It’s almost the closest we have come to a cure for depression that is long standing, that is severe, that is chronic, that is not treatable by medication or psychotherapy alone. ” Dr. Chatterjee says. ” It gives us a chance to help those patients.” 

HCEDA and the Catalyst VLT Loan 

Of course, getting a new treatment like TMS off the ground takes more than clinical expertise—it takes capital. As a newly established practice, financing the TMS equipment was one of the biggest challenges Dr. Chatterjee faced. “Financing was a hurdle because it’s a new practice,” he explains. “I didn’t have the initial finances to purchase the machine because it was very expensive.” 

That’s where the Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) stepped in. Through the Catalyst VLT Loan, a program designed to provide early-stage funding to promising small businesses in Howard County, Dr. Chatterjee was able to secure the financial support needed to expand his services. 

“I applied for the loan through the Howard County Economic Development Authority and it has helped me provide much needed TMS.” 

HCEDA offers a wide range of programs designed to support local businesses at every stage of growth—from financing and site selection to technical assistance and workforce development. Whether you’re launching a startup, expanding your footprint or bringing new technology to market, HCEDA is here to help businesses thrive. Learn more at www.howardcountyeda.org. 

Real Patient Transformations 

Since launching the TMS program, the results have been remarkable. Patients walk into the center weighed down by depression and over time, they leave stronger, more hopeful and ready to reclaim their lives. 

“When I see patients who are depressed and then when they leave, they have their life back. So, it feels good.” Dr. Chatterjee shares. 

A Supportive Business Environment 

This story is about more than technology or funding—it’s about what happens when a community comes together to support meaningful work. It’s about how a local business, backed by the right resources, can change lives. 

Howard County is full of stories like this. It’s a place where entrepreneurs, healthcare providers and small business owners find the support they need to grow—and where residents benefit from that growth in real, human ways. 

A Partnership for Impact 

The Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness is proof of what’s possible when vision meets opportunity. With help from HCEDA, Dr. Chatterjee turned a financial hurdle into a doorway for healing. And the impact? It’s written on the faces of every patient who now has their life back.